Electrical remote control for ordnance



Dec. 17, 1929. e. G. OELKE ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR onnmmca Filed Jan. 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l I s I W My Dec. 17, 1 929. OELKE 1,739,608

ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR ORDNANCE Fil 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet V 2 l geoz e 6.062716,

I v 0 I mama 1" Patented Dec. 17, 1929 GEORGE GRANT OELKE, OF BLUE EARTH, MINNESOTA.

ELECTRICAL REMOTE CONTROL FOR ORDNANCE Application filed January 20, 1928. Serial No. 248,167.

The present invention pertains to improvements in the art of remotely controlling ordnance, and referring more particularly to the specific adaptation of this invention, the same 5 will be found to be particularly adapted for controlling like field pieces, and anti-air craft uns. b Although the means employed in this invention is especially suitable for the remote control of light piece of ordnance, the use of same is not to be restricted to this particular division, but by small changes in the weight of the material, and the strength of energy employed, may be resorted to for adapting the present means to extremely heavy artillerv.

The advantages of such a control as this are manifold, and in its application to various types of guns the operation of same will present a situation whereby it is contemplated that many lives Will be saved.

By equipping guns with this electrical control means, the gun may be positioned quite close to the lines of the belli 'erent forces, whereas the men in charge 0% firing these guns may be positioned at a considerable distance toward the rear of same, where they can receive accurate range signals from air men flying overhead, for the obvious purpose of concentrating their guns on vital points of the intermediate enemies lines through the actuation of this novel electrical remote control.

The present means is also applicable to machine guns, where the battery of such guns may situated at advantageous positlons, each of the same being equipped with the same control means, and this control means being inerged in a centralized control ata desired position in the rear of the guns, so that the same may be concentrated toward a single point on the intermediate lines, without exposing men at the guns.

An important object of this invention is the provision whereby a gun equipped with this novel control means may be brought to a position to fire at any probable range.

Another object is to provide a preferred construction for a mount of light guns, which structure is corporated as part of this inventlon.

Other very novel objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent as the same is better understood from the specification and claims to follow.

. In the drawing:

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a light piece of artillery supported upon a novel mount, and shown in operable association with the remote control means for elevating the same.

Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the gun and mount, as representedin Fig. 1, and showing the remote control means for swinging the gun laterally.

Fig. 3 represents in diagrammatic View, the system whereby the proper elevation of the gun may be attained, and

Fig. 4 also represents a diagrammatic View of the systemwhereby the gun may be swung laterally.

Now for a more detailed disclosure of the present invention, reference is made to the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts. The present invention incorporates a mount for light artillery, which is clearly disclosed in Fig. 1 of the drawings,

wherein an annulus 1, the inner periphery ofwhich has .connected thereto at predetermined spaced intervals, the outer ends of a spider, generally referred to by numeral 2. This spider includes a disk 3, adapted in concentric relation with the annulus, the outer end of the arms 4, radiating therefrom, are secured to the inner periphery of the annulus in the manner aforementioned.

The discular plate 3 may be of a suitable thickness and formed with a plurality of sockets in which the upper ends of a suitable number of supporting legs 5, may be secured, for supporting the gun in the manner shown.

An upstanding tapering post 6 has its lower enlarged end swivelled to the discular plate 3, and obviously concentric with the annulus 5. The upper end'of this post is provided with a yoke 7, between the arms of which, a gun 8 of the desired type and calibre is piv otally mounted. This gun may be of conventional design, including the usual barrel A, and cooling jacket B. 4

An arm 9 projects laterally from the lower end portion of the post 6, and terminates in spaced relation from the annulus 5. The end portion of this arm is provided with suitable means for supporting an electromagnetic coil 10.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, the inner periphery of the annulus 1 is provided with a multiplicity of electro-magnets 11 secured thereto, and arranged in circumferentially spaced alinement. The position of these magnets is such, that by the rotation of the post 6, the electro-magnet 10 may be brought into successive approximate spaced relation, therewith.

As is shown inFig. 1, an upstanding segmental support'12 is rigidly secured at its lower end, to the annulus 1. Arranged on the inner side of this segmental support, are a multiplicity of longitudinally alined and spaced electro-magnets 13. An arm 14 projects laterally from thegun 8, the outer end of which is provided with means whereby the arm is adapted to support an electromagnetic coil 15. This coil is to be connected to the arm in such a manneras to allow the same to be brought into approximate spaced alinement successively with any one of the electromagnetic coils 13.

Referring to the diagrammatic view of Fig. 3, the same shows a pivotalswitch arm 16,

' which arm is pivoted at one end, in the usual manner, and preferably provided with a suitable insulatory knob 17. As shown, a segmental conductor plate-18 is to be disposed in a manner'whereby an intermediate portion of the arm 16 will be in constant wiping rela-' tion therewith.

A connecting wire 19 electrically connects one end of this conductor with one side of the coil, 15. The opposite side of this coil is electrically connected with the positive side of a battery 20, through the connecting wire 21. The negative side of the battery is connected with the switch arm by the connector 22.

A multiplicity of spaced contacts 23 are arranged in segmental order, so that the free end portion of the arm 16 may be brought successively into individual contact therewith. The diagrammatic view of Fig. 4, discloses a similar arrangement, in that a switch arm 24 is pivoted at one end concentrically with a split circular conductor plate 25.

The intermediate portion of this arm constantly engages the conductor 25, while said conductor plate is arranged concentrically within an annular arrangement of spaced contacts 26. One end of the conductor 25 is electrically connected through the connector wire 27 to one side of the coil 28. The oppo site side of the coil is electrically connected through the connector 29 to the positive side of the battery 30.

The negative side of the battery is in connection with the pivotal end of the arm '24. In both diagrammatic views, the respective contacts 26 and 23 are electrically connected with the corresponding coils of the multiplicity group 13, and 11. A common lead wire 31 in the Fig. 3, connects the positive side of the battery 20 in common with the opposite side of the individual coils making up the group 13.

A similar connector 32 in Fig. 4, furnishes positive current to the inner ends of the coils 11. In operation, when itis desired to swing the gun horizontally, the arm 24 is moved from the dead contact, indicated by 011?, in Fig. 4, to a predetermined contact of the group 26. By the successive movement of the arm over the contacts, the coils 11 will be successively energized with the inner ends of their cores of a definite olarity. Simultaneously, the wiping relation of the arm 24 with the conductor 25, will cause the energization of the coil 28, resulting in the opposite polarity of the end of the core adjacent to the coils 11, due to the particular connection of the circuit with the battery 30.

coil 28 and the coils 50, the attraction set up by the magnetic force offthe coils 11 will cause the moving of the coils 28 as the former are successively energized. Obviously, the actuation of the circuit as disclosed in Fig. 3, for controlling the elevation of the gun is of substantially the same description, only resulting in a prolixity if described further in this specification.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a remote control for guns, a support, an annulus arranged in association with said support, a multiplicity of electro-magnetic units arranged-in spaced 'alinement at the inner side of said annulus, said support being provided with means for swivelly supporting a gun, means carried bythe gun in proper magnetic relation with the magnetic units, and means for energizing the coils successively for attracting the means carried by the gun.

2. In a remote control for guns, a support, a stationary upstanding member on said support, said support being provided with means for pivotally supporting a gun, said upstanding member being provided with a multiplicity of longitudinally spaced electro-magnetic units, means on the gun adapted to be attracted bythe magnetic units of the upstanding member, and means for controlling an electrical current tosaid units, successively for the purpose of attracting the means on the gun and causing the movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. I 

